Yoga for Multiple Sclerosis

This evening will be the first, of hopefully many, yoga classes that I will hold at UT Medical Center for patients living with M.S. Like myself, there are plenty of people who are seemingly healthy from the outside, and although this does not imply that I am suffering on the inside, it does mean that there are times when fatigue and confusion are far more than the average person.
On the other end of the M.S. spectrum there are individuals that are living with constant chronic pain, spasticity in their muscles, vision impairment, weakness, and limited mobility and balance.
No matter where you are in your life, no matter how limited you may feel in your mobility, yoga will meet you where you are....meaning, everything can be tailored to your personal wants and needs. Yoga is so much more than poses, and in realizing this any person can practice yoga. If all you can do is blink and breath you can practice yoga.
So this is the first step of my journey in using my own illness and obstacles in my life as the vehicle that empowers my practice. That empowers my life.

The Beauty of Conferences

This past weekend was one of the most eye opening and inspiring times of my career as a personal trainer. Through the IDEA Fitness Association I have learned more information in several different, yet related fields, than I had ever anticipated learning! Top in the field professionals came to speak and with them they brought their most influential and beneficial knowledge to share with all of us. I really felt privileged.

Just to give you a taste of the awesome presenters, there was: Todd Durkin Bootcamp extrodinare and #1 Fitness Instructor for several years, Fraser Quelch from TRX (yes the guy in the videos), Dr. Len Kravitz, PhD at the University of New Mexico, Scott Josephson. MS,RD from the Hippocrates Institute, Rachel Cosgrove author of "The Female Body Breakthrough" with her husband Alwyn Cosgrove they own a top 10 rated gym in the nation called Results Fitness, Jonathan Ross author of "Abs Revealed", and Nick Tumminello fighter, trainer and author of "The Naked Athlete".
And these were just the presenters from the classes I attended! There were tons of others!

In the next couple of weeks I will be summarizing and giving my opinions, as well as affective applications, to the information I received in these classes... so stay tuned! I think this will help me be inspired with my blog and put some fuel in me to really research all this amazing information! Knowledge is POWER!!

So if you are in a profession where you think you know everything there is to know and there would be absolutely no benefit for you to continue your education, than perhaps it is time to move on to a new profession! Never stop learning!

New Year. New You?

We are more than a week into 2011. Time does fly by! How are your resolutions holding up? Perhaps you promised yourself that you would finally quit smoking, stop eating fast food, begin an exercise routine, get your whole family to adopt a healthier lifestyle, or fit into those old jeans. So how's it going?
The most important part in setting a resolution, or a goal of any kind, is that you inform the people that you are around the most and are the most important to you. Also, write it down! When someone else knows what your goal is you are more likely to adhere to the changes that are necessary in reaching your goal. Without someone to remind you, encourage you, or compliment your good work you are likely to stray from the resolution path.
If you set a resolution that is drastically different from your current lifestyle (or let's be honest even a normal lifestyle post-holiday can prove to be a challenge) you might be feeling a serious urge to bend the rules or even break them completely and throw in the towel. Let this be know: the first two weeks in any sort of diet, fitness, sleeping, lifestyle change will be the hardest! The feelings of a semi-withdrawal from your old lifestyle begins to set in and you feel deprived and trapped. Also, there will be a lag in energy and the overall feeling of wellness that is expected to follow a healthy diet and fitness. The increase of energy, the increased metabolism, elation, and confidence will take at least 2 weeks. Your body has a learning curve! It's not used to change and it may be reacting in a way that makes you feel like being lazy or quit, but don't throw all your hard work away!
If the urge to quit is becoming more and more of an option then perhaps you should consider hiring a trainer or joining a class where you will be held accountable. Remember why you set this resolution in the first place. And now envision yourself completing the resolution/goal. Now that's something to look forward to!

Don't Skip Stretching

Stretching may seem like a waste, especially if you have only a small amount of time to workout, but it is essential to a proper workout regimen. Not only is it important that you stretch before your workout but it is perhaps more important to stretch post workout.

So lets say your workout of the day concentrates on your legs. You want to stretch each group of muscles for a minimum of 2 minutes. The most efficient way to stretch is called Self Myofacial Release, or foam rolling. This is a similar way of lengthening the muscles like a message therapist would do. For your quadriceps you want to begin one leg on the foam roll, facing the floor, and beginning at the hip flexor. Slowly begin to roll down the quad toward the patella tendon. Make sure that while foam rolling you are as relaxed as possible, otherwise this would be a waste of time. When you get to a particularly sensitive, maybe even painful, part of the rolling process pause for 30 seconds to allow the adhesion to release. Once the knot, or adhesion, dissipates continue to roll slowly until your entire quad has been rolled at least twice.

Make sure not to roll too quickly over the muscle because this will create an opposite affect, possibly tightening muscles more than releasing them.

Post workout follow the same techniques. Treat each grouping of muscles separately. This will jump start the muscle regeneration process so that when you workout again you will not be too sore to walk.

In addition to Self Myofacial Release stretch as you would for a total body workout. Also, have a warm-up and cool-down of 2-5 minutes.

Stretching, foam rolling and rest are as important as the workout itself. Without these pre and post workout routines you will not get the most out of your workout!

Why hiring a personal trainer is your best bet for reaching your goals:

You might think that you can get into shape by yourself, and you might be right to a certain degree, but you will not reach your optimum level of health and fitness without professional guidance.

One of the most beneficial aspects of hiring a CPT (certified personal trainer) is accountability. If you do not workout or show up to a session you will be held accountable. This will be the ultimate way to keep you honest. There will be accountability on your days off and your food log.

In addition to accountability a CPT will push you outside your comfort zone to your optimal level of speed, agility, strength, and endurance. The biggest obstacle to getting into shape is your own mind. The mind controls everything and can break you down.

Need an extra boost and some push for you to reach your potential? Email me for a consultation and 1 free workout @ emilyzenith@gmail.com

Zenith Fitness is Up and Running!

I am proud to announce that Zenith Fitness is a registered business in Tennessee! With my personal trainer's certification with the National Academy of Sports Medicine and being legit I am ready to get YOU into shape!

It has been too long...

It has been a long time since I have blogged! I am so sorry! I will post after my day at the Health and Wellness Expo tomorrow!